Metal Tooth For Zipper

ABSTRACT

In a metal zipper, each metal tooth has a mounting hole located on one end of the base thereof, two first engagement portions and two second engagement portions formed integral with the base at two opposite sides of the mounting hole for engaging into the top and bottom sides of the inner edge of the respective zipper tape to deform the respective inner edge during installation so that engagement between the zipper tape and the metal tooth is enhanced, avoiding vibration of the metal tooth relative to the zipper tape during operation of the metal zipper and prolonging the lifespan of the metal zipper. Further, each metal tooth has a concave surface portion formed in the protruding tooth head thereof so that less friction is produced when the metal zipper is closed or opened.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an improved structure of metal zipperand more particularly, to a metal tooth for zipper, which enhances itsengagement with the zipper tape, avoiding vibration relative to thezipper tape during operation of the metal zipper and prolonging thelifespan of the metal zipper. Further, the metal tooth has a concavesurface portion formed in the protruding tooth head thereof so that lessfriction is produced when the metal zipper is closed or opened.

2. Description of the Related Art

In a regular metal zipper, as shown in FIG. 1, metal teeth 4 arerespectively fastened to the longitudinal inner edges 31 of therespective zipper tapes 3 by a press or installation tool (not shown).According to this design, each metal tooth 4 comprises a base 40, amounting hole 41 transversely cut through two opposite lateral sides ofthe base 40 for mounting. The mounting hole 41 has an outer open end411, an inner close end 413 and a neck 412 spaced between the outer openend 411 and the inner close end 413. The base 40 has two protrudingengagement portions 414 disposed at two opposite sides of the neck 412of the mounting hole 41 (see FIG. 3) for engaging into the top andbottom sides of the longitudinal inner edges 31 of the respective zippertape 3. This design of metal tooth 4 has drawbacks as follows:

-   1. The metal tooth 4 simply uses the two protruding engagement    portions 414 of the base 40 to engage the top and bottom sides of    the longitudinal inner edges 31 of the respective zipper tape 3.    When the user pulls the slide 5 to close or open the metal teeth 4,    the metal teeth 4 may be biased or forced out of place, causing a    slide jam.-   2. When sliding the slide 5 to close or open the metal zipper, the    outer end edges 421 of the protruding tooth heads 42 of the metal    teeth 4 at one zipper tape 3 may be forced to rub against the outer    end edges 401′ of the bases 40′ of the metal teeth 4′ at the other    zipper tape 3, producing frictional resistance. Thus, closing or    opening the metal zipper become unsmooth.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a metaltooth for metal zipper, which enhances its engagement with the zippertape, avoiding vibration relative to the zipper tape during operation ofthe metal zipper and prolonging the lifespan of the metal zipper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a metal toothfor metal zipper, which reduces friction when the metal zipper is openedor closed, facilitating smooth operation of the metal zipper.

To achieve these and other objects of the present invention, a metaltooth for metal zipper has a mounting hole located on one end of thebase thereof, two first engagement portions and two second engagementportions formed integral with the base at two opposite sides of themounting hole for engaging into the top and bottom sides of the inneredge of the respective zipper tape to deform the respective inner edgeduring installation so that engagement between the zipper tape and themetal tooth is enhanced, avoiding vibration of the metal tooth relativeto the zipper tape during operation of the metal zipper and prolongingthe lifespan of the metal zipper.

Further, metal tooth has a concave surface portion formed in theprotruding tooth head thereof so that less friction is produced when themetal zipper is closed or opened.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a part of a metal zipperaccording to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1, illustrating thepositioning of one metal tooth on the respective zipper tape.

FIG. 3 is a plain view of one metal tooth of the metal zipper accordingto the prior art.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a metal tooth fastenedto one zipper tape according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of one metal tooth for zipper according tothe present invention.

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of the metal tooth shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of a part of a metal zipperaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 4˜7, a metal zipper 2 (see FIG. 7) is shown,comprising two zipper tapes 21 each having a longitudinal inner edge211, two series of metal teeth 1 respectively and transversely affixedto the zipper tapes 21 and spaced along the respective longitudinalinner edges 211 in a staggered manner. By means of pulling a slide (notshown) in one direction, the two series of metal teeth 1 can beinterlocked, forming a chain. Each metal tooth 1 comprises a base 10, amounting hole 11 transversely cut through one end, namely, the inner endof the base 10 on the middle (see FIG. 6), and a protruding tooth head12 protruded from one lateral side of an opposite end, namely, the outerend of the base 10. The mounting hole 11 has an outer open end 111, aninner close end 115, a first neck 112 spaced between the outer open end111 and the inner close end 115, a second neck 114 spaced between thefirst neck 112 and the inner close end 115, and a flank portion 113defined between the first neck 112 and the second neck 114. The base 10has two opposing first engagement portions 116 respectively disposed attwo opposite sides of the first neck 112, and two opposing secondengagement portions 117 respectively disposed at two opposite sides ofthe second neck 114. By means of the first engagement portions 116 andsecond engagement portions 117, the base 10 of each metal tooth 1 isaffixed to the longitudinal inner edge 211 of one respective zipper tape21. During installation, the first engagement portions 116 and secondengagement portions 117 of the base 10 of each metal tooth 1 arerespectively engaged into the top and bottom sides of the inner edge 211of the respective zipper tape 21 to deform the respective inner edge211, enhancing engagement between the zipper tape 21 and the metal tooth1, avoiding vibration of the metal tooth 1 relative to the zipper tape21 and prolonging the lifespan of the metal zipper.

Each metal tooth 1 further comprises a notch 13 located on the otherlateral side of the outer end of the base 10 opposite to the protrudingtooth head 12. Further, the protruding tooth head 12 has a bevel face121 located on one side thereof adjacent to the mounting hole 11, aslope face 122 located on an opposite side thereof remote from themounting hole 11 and a concave surface portion 1221 formed in the slopeface 122. Further, the slope face 122 may be smoothly arched. Subject tothe effect of the concave surface portion 1221, less friction orresistance is produced when closing or opening the two series of metalteeth 1, i.e., when closing or opening the metal zipper 2, the concavesurface portions 1221 of the metal teeth 1 at one zipper tape 21 providea respective space for receiving the outer end edges 131 of the metalteeth 1 at the other zipper tape 21 (see FIG. 7), avoiding frictionbetween the two series of metal teeth 1 and facilitating metal zipperclosing or opening operation.

When compared to the prior art design, the mounting hole 11 of the base10 of each metal tooth 1 of the present invention has an outer open end111, an inner close end 115, a first neck 112 spaced between the outeropen end 111 and the inner close end 115, a second neck 114 spacedbetween the first neck 112 and the inner close end 115 and a flankportion 113 defined between the first neck 112 and the second neck 114,and the base 10 of each metal tooth 1 of the present invention has twoopposing first engagement portions 116 respectively disposed at twoopposite sides of the first neck 112, and two opposing second engagementportions 117 respectively disposed at two opposite sides of the secondneck 114. During installation, the first engagement portions 116 andsecond engagement portions 117 of the base 10 of each metal tooth 1 arerespectively engaged into the top and bottom sides of the inner edge 211of the respective zipper tape 21 to deform the respective inner edge211, enhancing engagement between the zipper tape 21 and the metal tooth1, avoiding vibration of the metal tooth 1 relative to the zipper tape21 and prolonging the lifespan of the metal zipper. Further, theprotruding tooth head 12 has a bevel face 121 located on one sidethereof adjacent to the mounting hole 11, a slope face 122 located on anopposite side thereof remote from the mounting hole 11 and a concavesurface portion 1221 formed in the slope face 122. Subject to the effectof the concave surface portion 1221, less friction or resistance isproduced when closing or opening the two series of metal teeth 1,

In general, the invention has the following benefits:

-   1. By means of the first engagement portions 116 and second    engagement portions 117, the base 10 of each metal tooth 1 is    affixed to the longitudinal inner edge 211 of one respective zipper    tape 21. During installation, the first engagement portions 116 and    second engagement portions 117 of the base 10 of each metal tooth 1    are respectively engaged into the top and bottom sides of the inner    edge 211 of the respective zipper tape 21 to deform the respective    inner edge 211, enhancing engagement between the zipper tape 21 and    the metal tooth 1, avoiding vibration of the metal tooth 1 relative    to the zipper tape 21 and prolonging the lifespan of the metal    zipper.-   2. When closing or opening the metal zipper 2, the concave surface    portions 1221 of the metal teeth 1 at one zipper tape 21 provide a    respective space for receiving the outer end edges 131 of the metal    teeth 1 at the other zipper tape 21 (see FIG. 7), avoiding friction    between the two series of metal teeth 1 and facilitating metal    zipper closing or opening operation.

While only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be understood that various modifications and changescould be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention disclosed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A metal zipper comprising two zipper tapes eachhaving a longitudinal inner edge, and two series of metal teethrespectively and transversely affixed to the longitudinal inner edges ofsaid zipper tapes and respectively spaced along the longitudinal inneredges of said zipper tapes in a staggered manner for interlocking, eachsaid metal tooth comprising a base, a mounting hole transversely cutthrough an inner end of said base on the middle and a protruding toothhead protruded from one lateral side of an opposite end of said base,wherein said mounting hole of each said metal tooth comprises an outeropen end, an inner close end, a first neck spaced between said outeropen end and said inner close end, a second neck spaced between saidfirst neck and said inner close end, and a flank portion defined betweensaid first neck and said second neck; said base comprises two opposingfirst engagement portions respectively disposed at two opposite sides ofsaid first neck and two opposing second engagement portions respectivelydisposed at two opposite sides of said second neck.
 2. The metal zipperas claimed in claim 1, wherein each said metal tooth further comprises aconcave surface portion formed in the slope face of the protruding toothhead thereof.